INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

M I N U T E S  IRAC-2012-2

The Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee (IRAC) met on March 1, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. in the Council Chamber, 5th Floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

Members Present:		B. Crombie*; P. Foley; S. Hames; E. Kolb*¨; E. Moore; R. Paterak¨; J. Sanderson; R. Starr; A.Thompson; J. Tovey*
Members Absent:		C. Fonseca, due to a personal matter; G. Miles, due to other municipal business; P Saito, due to other municipal business
Other Regional Councillors Present:		R. Whitehead
Also Present:		S. VanOfwegen, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services; J. Smith, Commissioner of Health Services; J. Menard, Commissioner of Human Services; D. Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy; L. Rubin-Vaughan, Senior Advisor, Government Relations; C. Thomson, Committee Clerk

Chaired by Councillor A. Thompson.

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil

Councillor Starr introduced Destiny Norman, a journalism student who was “shadowing” him for the day.


2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-2-2012:

That the agenda for the March 1, 2012 Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee meeting, be approved.

3. DELEGATIONS - Nil


4. REPORTS

Received

RECOMMENDATION IRAC-3-2012:

That the Government Relations Strategic Opportunities and Advocacy Priorities identified in the report of the Chair, Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee, dated February 6, 2012, titled “2012 Government Relations Strategic Opportunities and Advocacy Priorities”, be approved.

Regional Chair Kolb arrived at 11:08 a.m.

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

David Arbuckle, Manager, Public Policy, noted that staff will be reporting back to a future meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee with information regarding discussion topics for a “Meeting in Ottawa” and identifying the Ministers the Peel delegation should meet with. He noted that organizing meetings in “Ottawa” is an important next step for advancing Peel’s advocacy work and is an effective way of continuing to strengthen relationships and to raise Peel-specific issues at the Federal level.

a) Federal News

b) Provincial News

c) Local News

Received

A copy of the presentation is available from the Office of the Regional Clerk.

Councillor Paterak suggested that staff from the Office of Strategic Innovation and Policy monitor press reports related to the European financial crisis and provide information related to measures being considered to deal with the European crisis to local Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Provincial Parliament (MPPs) to demonstrate that austerity and reduced government spending is not necessarily appropriate during a recession. Councillor Paterak requested that staff consider providing local MPs and MPPs with media clippings from national and international media that may be relevant to issues being faced locally.

David Arbuckle clarified that references within the presentation to infrastructure funding relate to the request from municipalities for a new permanent infrastructure fund for roads and bridges. He noted that as the budget comes forward, it will need to be determined if long term infrastructure funds will be used to bring down the deficit.

Councillor Paterak requested that staff provide an analysis of new legislation regarding auxiliary residential suites.

Councillor Crombie arrived at 11:27 a.m.

David Arbuckle stated that the determination of the impact of second suites had previously been determined to be an area municipal responsibility however; staff would review the legislation and provide a brief analysis at a future meeting of the Committee.

Janet Menard, Commissioner of Human Services, noted that a requirement of the legislation is to develop a long term affordable housing strategy which includes second suites. She stated that Region of Peel staff would be working with area municipal staff to determine how the Region of Peel could assist them in moving forward.

Councillor Starr inquired as to what impact previous meetings with Ministers have had on advancing Peel’s advocacy issues. Lowell Rubin-Vaughan stated that the meetings have helped to build relationships and have led to connections within the various Ministries that have helped to draw attention to Peel’s issues and achieve results.

David Arbuckle noted that staff would be developing measurement tools to assist in assessing the impact of the Region of Peel’s advocacy efforts.

Councillor Starr inquired as to how advocacy efforts could be better coordinated between the Region and its area municipalities. Lowell Rubin-Vaughan stated that where possible, Region of Peel staff try to coordinate advocacy initiatives with the area municipalities and that more frequent meetings will take place throughout the year with the Region and area municipal government relations staff.

Janet Menard, Commissioner of Human Services noted that senior staff regularly meets with their counterparts across the province and that provincial staff are invited to the meetings. Common issues that cannot be resolved at the staff level are then elevated to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) for discussion by the CAO group.

Janette Smith, Commissioner of Health Services advised that staff in Health Services belong to provincial associations related to their programs and use that opportunity to advance advocacy issues.

Councillor Tovey arrived at 11:49 a.m., due to other municipal business.

Councillor Moore stated that property tax reform is needed to deal with services that should not be funded by property taxes and suggested that this message be integrated within Peel’s advocacy messaging.

Regional Chair Kolb stated that Development Charges will not be sufficient to pay for infrastructure to support future growth and that this issue affects all Ontario municipalities. He requested that the IRAC consider what will be needed to support growth over the next 10 years and how it can be achieved without raising taxes.

David Arbuckle undertook to review the Region’s submissions to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) to determine if tax reform messaging can be incorporated. He also noted that at the present time, the only way to change development charge funding is to re-open the Development Charges Act, which the government has indicated it is not willing to do. He undertook to report to a future meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee with a high level overview of the Development Charge issue as well as suggestions for advocating for its reform.

Regional Chair Kolb departed at 12:11 p.m.
Councillor Paterak departed at 12:13 p.m.

Councillor Tovey expressed his appreciation to David Arbuckle and Lowell Rubin-Vaughan for assisting him in preparation for his meetings in Ottawa. He stated that he had excellent conversations with federal officials and was surprised at how little they knew about the City of Mississauga and the Region of Peel.

6. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil

7. IN CAMERA MATTERS - Nil

8. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil

9. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Intergovernmental Relations Advisory Committee is scheduled for Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 11:00 a.m., Council Chamber, 5th floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, Suite A, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Christine Thomson, Committee Clerk, (905) 791-7800, ext. 4582 or at christine.thomson@peelregion.ca.

10. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 12:19 p.m.